Deputy President Paul Mashatile has dismissed as blatant lies allegations peddled by Afriforum, Solidarity and Kallie Kriel in particular that the land and private properties belonging to white Afrikaners in South African are being forcefully confiscated.
Mashatile was addressing Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA’s) Golden Jubilee Celebration held at the Rustenburg Civic Centre in the North West last night.
He said that the country’s Land reforms are being managed properly without any challenges using the existing laws.
“I’ve discovered that some of the farmers, especially white farmers who own vast tracts of land, are willing to give some away to the government to settle people, or involve new farmers to use the unoccupied land. They even partner with emerging farmers to work together to improve the farming of the land ensuring food security for all. I often engage with them and find a lot of them (farmers) who are voluntarily cooperating with the government so when you hear someone say white farmers are being killed in South Africa you must know that it’s a lie, we work together,” said the Deputy President.
“Nobody’s land is forcefully taken away, but we engage, we negotiate. There are instances where the government everywhere in the world will need land for public good, will want to build railway lines, a freeway and so on, and in those instances the government will expropriate land and compensate its owners.”
Mashatile said that land is more than just an economic asset. “It is central to social, cultural but also to individual identity, people identify with where they live. It is also a vital, natural resource and a foundation for human security and livelihoods. Its fair distribution is essential for dignity, for stability and shared prosperity,” he said.
The Deputy President said that he has been working very closely with both Ministers responsible for Rural Development and Land Reform and his Agriculture counterpart Mzwanele Nyhontso and John Steenhuisen respectively.
Meanwhile, Mashatile said that the country is bedevilled by serious social challenges such as crime and corruption and also violent crime. “We are strengthening law enforcement agencies with a biggest focus on gender based violence and femicide.”
He has however applauded the church (ELCSA) for working with the government all these years in addressing some of the social ills faced by communities.
Thank you to the church, we are where we are because of you. “Now the Lutheran church in Southern Africa stood firm in proclaiming the gospel of liberation, affirming that all races are created in God’s image equal and worthy of dignity. When fear silenced many, the church spoke boldly against racial segregation and inequality calling for justice and reconciliation,” said Mashatile.
